3700 episodes
Nic Russell: writer and health advocate opens up about the hard times she's faced in new book Bollix
30/08/2026 | 16 mins.Irish-born Kiwi author Nic Russell has dealt with an unrelenting amount of hardship and grief - and she's turned her experiences into a book.
She's survived breast cancer, she’s lost a child, had a heart transplant and been diagnosed with Parkinson's - all before the age of 50 - and that inspired Kenzie’s Gift, a charity that supports young people through times of grief.
She's shared her stories in a new book - Bollix.
"I'm changed, the events of my life have changed me - hopefully for the better. Hopefully I have more understanding and empathy and know what's important in life. I think that's really what life has taught me."
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.- Hundreds of family videos and years of research have gone into an intimate new documentary about rugby legend Jonah Lomu.
The film draws on archive footage to tell the story of the All Black, who died 11 years ago aged 40.
It follows Lomu from his time at Wesley College through his rise to the All Blacks, and the pressures that came with being in the limelight.
Co-director Vea Mafile'o says the film captures the quiet moments the public never got to see.
"He went through a lot...and he did get a hard time from multiple different places, and so it felt really important to just put a little more context so people could have a better understanding of his life and upbringing."
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. - The Body and the Blood by Molly Crighton. This is a crime thriller set in and around St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin’s Octagon. A woman is found on the floor beneath the organ loft - initially the police assume she’d fallen, but a young police administrator senses that something more sinister was afoot and recruits a notorious journalist to help get to the bottom of it. For people who know Dunedin well, it’s a great location.
Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty. Many readers will remember her excellent Big Little Lies some years ago which was subsequently made into a terrific TV series. This is a sequel, ten years later when the kids from the original book are now at college and their parents are navigating complex lives. There’s outrage in the community when the principal of the college receives a shocking delivery and a strange man starts hanging round the school, and eventually there has to be a reckoning. These are terrific characters, and anyone who loved the original book will also love this (though it can equally be read on its own).
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. - About 8.7 million passengers were affected by a cyber attack on a group of airports in the UK last week.
Data relating to car park, lounge and fast-track security bookings at three major airports was accessed in the hack, including passengers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.
BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton says this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of free wi-fi - and outlined how travellers can protect themselves while using the internet overseas.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. - Fresh pappardelle with lemon gremolata
Cook time: 2-3 minutes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serves: 6
1 batch fresh pasta
3 lemons
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup parsley, chopped
2 tbsp grapeseed oil
Sea salt
Cracked pepper
Good parmesan
Zest the lemons and then juice into a bowl, add the oil, then add the crushed garlic and chopped parsley. Season well and set aside.
To make the pappardelle -
Cut the dough into 1/4 and then press down with your fingers to begin with.
Lightly dust a bench surface and using a rolling pin roll out each 1/4 of pasta. Continue to roll until you reach a thickness of a about 2-3 mm.
Dust with a touch more flour and cut into 1cm strips, toss over a touch more flour before continuing with the remaining pasta.
Once all the pasta has been rolled and cut, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
Drop in the pasta and allow it to come to the surface, Once the pasta is floating, continue to cook for a further 2 minutes before removing.
In a large bowl, toss through the gremolata and finely grate over a pile of parmesan cheese.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More News podcasts
Trending News podcasts
About The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.
Podcast websiteListen to The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, At Large with Toby Manhire and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app
- Stations and podcasts to bookmark
- Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Supports Carplay & Android Auto
- Many other app features
Get the free radio.net app
- Stations and podcasts to bookmark
- Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Supports Carplay & Android Auto
- Many other app features


The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
Scan code,
download the app,
start listening.
download the app,
start listening.
The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin: Podcasts in Family



























